Dawn Sanders

What we can learn from elite athlete transitions in supporting people to navigate uncertainty and change. This session will draw upon the parallels and lessons we can all learn from the experiences elite athletes go through when living through and managing seismic change and transition as they move beyond the performance arena. We are often driven to help people make positive changes in their lives and we have all been through periods of uncertainty and change before. But we often don’t explore what has got us through this change in the past and what might help us to get through change in the future. In hearing athlete experiences of transition, we can explore what we might be able to learn from these experiences to support ourselves and others through periods of uncertainty and change.

What it covers:

• Defining what we mean by change and transition by outlining some of the key transitions that athletes go through, throughout their sporting journey
• Outlining why change and transition can be hard
• Exploring the transformational support people need to understand and manage change and transition
• Understand some of the behaviours, tips, and tools that people say they feel supports them during periods of change

Elite sport has often been criticised for winning at any cost, sometimes at the detriment of positive performance cultures, athlete welfare and self-worth. In this session we explore how to win well as people as well as performers. In this session we will be shown some of the challenges elite sport faces when constantly pushing for performance outcomes and how they have turned cultures around to support people development as well as performance.

1. Highlighting the negative headlines when sport doesn’t win well and the impact that has on cultures, trust and engagement

2. Impact of a singular performance identity

3. Examine the need for performance measures whilst also outlining the impact of enjoying the journey along the way

4. How to create metrics that just don’t speak to winning and losing

5. How to incorporate this into your people planning processes and culture

Behind every Olympic and Paralympic medal is a person who’s wellbeing and lifestyle needs must be met to enable them to perform under the scrutiny, pressure, and spotlight of elite sport. In this session we will be taken behind the scenes of an elite athlete’s lifestyle and explore the impact that elite sport can have on mental health and examine how developing wellbeing can positively impact performance. Athletes need to care for their mental health and wellbeing as much as their physical health to main and sustain their performance. We explore what is meant by mental health and wellbeing in a performance environment and how best to help people develop and enhance their wellbeing to aid career longevity, self worth and performance.

What it covers:

1. Explore athlete wellbeing case studies and experiences

2. Understand why it’s often hard for athletes to say they’re not OK

3. Define how Coaching and Mentoring and a holistic, individualised approach can have a positive impact on performance and wellbeing.

4. The importance of identity, giving back and gratitude to develop performance wellbeing

5. The importance of individualised self-care plans